Apparatus for laying and retrieving pipe lines



March 15, 1955 s. v. COLLINS APPARATUS FOR LAYING AND RETRIEVING PIPELINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 13 Samuel V. Col/insINVEVTOR.

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March 15, 1955 s. v. COLLINS 23,963

APPARATUS FOR LAYING AND RETRIEVING PIPE LINES Original Filed July 13,1950 T Sheets-Sheet 3 Sonrue/ M Co ///'/25 INVENTOR.

BY mm a way FE C Kim/2 L ATTORNEYS March 15, 1955 s. v. COLLINSAPPARATUS FOR LAYING AND RETRIEVING PIPE LINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 OriginalFiled July 13. 1950 Jam 06/ V Co/h'ns INVENTOR. y m

ATTORNEYS March 15, 1955 s. v. COLLINS Re. 23,963

APPARATUS FOR LAYING AND REITRIEVING PIPE LINES Original Filed July 13,1950 7 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Samuel M Collins INVENTOR.

BY 73 W +K C J A T TOR/V5 Y5 March 15, 1955 s. v. COLLINS APPARATUS FORLAYING AND RETRIEVING PIPE LINES 7 Shanta-Sheet 6 Original Filed July13. 1950 Samuel 1/. Col/ins INVENTOR.

BY 141x44 f3. 65

j figi. $0,2 5

A TTOR/VEVJ March 15, 1955 s. v. COLLINS APPARATUS FOR LAYING ANDRETRIEVING PIPE LINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed July 13 1950Jamue/ M Col/10s INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPARATUS FOR LAYING AND RETRIEVING PIPELINES Samuel V. Collins, Port Lavaca, Tex.

Original No. 2,602,360, dated July 8, 1952, Serial No.

173,623, July 13, 1950. Application for reissue January 15, 1953, SerialNo. 331,522

12 Claims. (Cl. 61-72) This invention relates to a method of extending apipe line to an olt-shore location, as an oil well, and to extendingsuch a pipe line across a body of water. It also relates to the methodof entrenching a line thus extended in the door beneath the body ofwater. Additionally it relates to a system and to the apparatus,devices, and equipment which may be employed by such system foraccomplishing such extension and entrenchrnent.

it is an object of this invention to provide a novel method andinexpensive apparatus for quickly extending a pipe line from shore to alocation upon, or across a body of water.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatusfor thus extending a coated pipe line without injuring the coatedsurface thereof, and without admitting water inside the pipe line.

lt is a further object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for extending a pipe line from the shore to a near-by locationor across a short expanse of water by adding sections of pipe to theline on the shore adjacent the launchway.

it is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatusfor extending a pipe line out to a remote location upon a body of water,or across a wide expanse of water. by towing floated pipe sections tosea and shore connecting such sections to the completed portion of theline.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a launchway forlaunching coated sections of pipe; such a launchway comprising aplurality of portable roller units which may be easily moved from onelaunching point to another.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a novel method offloating pipe sections at sea and also to provide the equipment thereforwhich may be easily disconnected from the line upon the water andrecovered it is yet another object of this invention to provide a noveltrenching machine which may be easily and removably installed along apipe line, and which may be easily towed and operated to jet a trenchupon the ocean floor into which the pipe line may sink.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a trenchingmachine of this class which may have its direction of motion along thepipe reversed without the necessity of reversing the machine itself.

It is yet an additional object of this invention to provide a trenchingmachine of this class having a releasably locked swiveled and valvedheader connection so that jetting water may be shut off. or directed toeither end of the machine.

lt is also an additional object of this invention to provide a trenchingmachine of this class provided with a frame on which pontoons may beadjusted in elevation to regulate the trench depth which the machine mayjet.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a trenching machineof this class provided with pontoons having air and water valveconnections so that their buoyancy may be regulated.

It is still an additional object of this invention to provide a stadiameans on the trenching machine to extend above the water level andindicate trench depth.

It is also an object of this invention to provide apparatus for. andmethods of recovering pipe lines from Re. 23,963 Reissued Mar. 15, 1955"ice under water by employing substantially the equipment employed tolay the line in substantially the reverse order to retrieve the line.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a launchway whichextends substantially perpendicular to the shoreline at its point ofcontact therewith, and which has a series of padded, iloatable dollies,either slidable or adapted to roll upon said launchway, so that processcoated pipe may be launched and the dollies re covered from the water.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent when thespecification is considered in connection with the drawings in which;

Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan view showing the method of extending apipe line from shore to a near-by location as an off-shore well.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a step in the launching of pipesections which are to be floated to sea and welded at sea to thecompleted portion of the pipe line.

Fig. 3 shows the step following that shown in Fig. 2', in this figurethe section being towed is shown approaching the completed portion ofthe line while the completed portion of the line is being raised so thatthe towed sections may be connected thereto.

Fig. 4 shows the operation of entrenching a sunken pipe line into theocean fioor.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the coated character of the pipesections employed in pipe lines and this view also shows the necessityfor padding supports, such as launchways, to protect the coated pipe.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a roller unit employed in one type oflaunchway.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a float connected to a pipesection.

Fig. 7A is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing one means ofmaintaining the band clipper float block on a float barrel until thefloat block is in contact with the water.

Fig. 7B is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a secondmodification of a structure for maintaining a float block on a floatbarrel until the block floats on the water.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a band clipper employed on floats to sever thebands connecting them to the pipe line when it is desired to sink thepipe line to the ocean floor.

F Fig8. 9 is a sectional elevation taken along line 9--9 of Fig. 10 is asectional elevation taken along line 10-40 of Fig. 8.

Fig. ll is a perspective view of one modification of an entrenchingmachine.

Fig. 12 is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 11.

Fig}. 13 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. I5 is a bottom view showing the construction and assembly of thelower rollers to complete the entrenchment of a pipe line by anentrenching machine.

Fig. I6 is a perspective view showing a portion of one modification oflaunchway.

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a modified trenching machine.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. l7.

Fig. 19 is a side elevation of a preferred modification of the trenchingmachine.

Fig. 20 is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a sectional elevation taken along line 21-2l of Fig. 19.

Fitz. 22 is a sectional plan view taken along line 22-42 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view, with barrel omitted, showing anothermodification of a means for maintaining the band clipper float block onthe float barrel.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view showing a modification of the means shownin Fig. 23.

in conventional methods of launching pipe heretofore employed. the pipehas usually been launched sideways. requiring that a pier be found. or asubstantially long, straight stretch of shore line on which a sidewiselaunchsauce way may be built. Also, great difficulty has beenexperienced in floating pipe sections at sea. and usually a multiplicityof tow boats or tugs have been required. In cases where float means havebeen connected to pipe sections, great difficulty has also beenencountered in disconnecting the float means when it has been desired toSink the pipe, and additional difliculties and losses have resulted inendeavoring to recover the float means. Futther difficulties have alsoarisen when it has been endeavored to sink the pipe into the ocean floorwhen awkward dredging equipment has been employed to form the trenchinto which the pipe is to be placed. The system of equipment covered bythis invention. and the methods employed, set out to remedy theseenumerated difiiculties and other obvious ones inherent to the art ofextending pipe lines over bodies of water to be entrenched into thefloor therebelow.

As shown in Fig. l, a pipe rack l is provided comprising spaced apartsupport members 2 forming a line preferably perpendicular to the shore.Sections of processed pipe 3 may then be assembled upon. or brought tothe pipe rack. Adjacent the pipe rack l, and extending parallel thereto,the launchway 4 is provided. As shown, this launchway comprises spacedapart rollers 5 to be hereinafter described. A pipe section 3 is thenmoved from rack 1 to launchway 4 and float means 6 are connected theretoat spaced apart intervals. The seaward end 16 of the section is thenplugged.

The pipe section 3, with floats attached, is then moved axially seawardupon the line of rollers 5 which extends into the water. The section islaunched far enough. in this manner. to permit a towing means. as a towboat 7, to attach a towing line 9 thereto. The tow boat then tows thesection seawardly in the desired direction. until the landward end 11 ofthe pipe section 3 is adjacent the seaward end 12 of the racked pipe.The winch 14 is provided to handle the pipe sections 3, and such isshown being used to bring the seaward end 16 of a section on thelaunchway 4 into abutment with the landward end 15 of the precedinglaunched section.

To contol the movement of the pipe by the tow boat 7, vocal control isfirst used from the control station 17 ashore, so that the pipe end 16and pipe end 15 may be kept adjacent each other for alignment, abutment,and welding. It is thus apparent that the director on shore must closelyobserve the ends 15 and 16 and that he must communicate timely with thetow boat opera tor who responds promptly to stop the tow boat.

When the ends have been abutted and welded, and the coating replaced andcompleted about the welded joint, the tow boat is then ready to proceedto tow the pipe line seawardly until the end 15 of the section justadded is adjacent the end 12 of the rack 1.

When this process has continued until the tow boat 7 is out of vocalcommunication range. communication may then be conducted by radio, boththe control station 17 ashore and the tow boat 7 being equipped withtransmitting and receiving sets 21. This method of communication maythen be used until the pipe line 20 is extended to location. as to theother side of the body of water 19. or to an off-shore well 22. When thepipe line has been extended to desired location, and it is desired tosink the line to the floor beneath the body of water, the float means 6are disconnected from the line and are retrieved. The method ofaccomplishing this will be set forth hereinbelow.

In cases where the off-shore location, or the body of water to betraversed, comprises too great a distance for handling pipe by the abovedescribed meth- 0d, the method of Figs. 2 and 3 may be employed. In thismethod, pipe sections 23 usually of considerably greater size and lengththan the sections 3, are assembled or positioned on the rack 24, and arehandled therefrom by the cat line 25 and moved onto the launchway 26.Then float means 27 are connected to the pipe section and both theinboard end 28 and outboard end 29 is plugged, and the section islaunched down the launchway extension 26' until a towing line 9 from thetow boat 7 may be connected to the outboard end 29. The winch 14' isprovided for handling the pipe in launching.

The tow boat 7 then tows the floated pipe sections to sea as indicatedin Fig. 3, the first section 23 being connected by conventional meansand methods to a location, as to the riser 30 of the offshore well 31.Subsequent sections are added by the method shown in Fig. 3 whereby acraft 32 equipped with a boom 33, winch 34, and handling line 35 asshown, is employed to lift the end 28 of a pipe section. to be alignedwith the end 29 of the approaching section 23, towed by the tow boat 7,so that the ends, after being unplugged, may be welded together and theuncoated surface about the welded joint coated while held out of thewater 19.

After this occurs the float means 27 are detached from the newly addedsection so that it may sink into the water. The float means are thenrecovered for further use as will be hereinafter described.

In every case where it is desired to release the craft 32 from itspurchase on the pipe line, a buoy or marker 36 is connected to the end28 of the added section, by a line 37 of greater length than the depthof water at that point. Thus the floating marker indicates to the crewof the craft 32 the next point at which they are to connect to the pipeline end to be raised.

After a pipe line has been completed by either of the methodshereinabovc described. it is desirable to sink the pipe into the earthenfloor beneath the body of water 19. This is accomplished by installing atrenching machine 39 around the pipe line 40 to be towed by the line 41connected to the machine from the craft 42.

This craft 42 also has pumping means 43 thereon to pick up sea water andpump it down the hose 44 to be jetted from the trenching machine jets 45to dig the trench 46 into which the pipe settles behind the machine 39.As the jetting of water generally stirs up the loose bottom of thefloor. it happens that the sediment and earth thus stirred up, willsettle back over the pipe line in the trench to bury it.

The pipe 40 employed, as shown in Fig. 5, is generally coated by amaterial, as bitumen 4S. and is also wrapped by a material as felt,wrapping paper. or a suitable water proof material 46. For this reasonthe rack members 2 should preferaby have the pads 47 thereon to protectthe coating from indentations in handling. For the same reason thelaunchway roller elements 51 of the rollers 5 are of a soft material,preferably rubber.

The individual portable rollers 5 may be put down to direct a launchwayalong any directional line or at a desired curvature. Such a roller hasthe base 52 which has the uprights 53 on opposed sides thereof.Centrally on the base 52 between the uprights, there is alfixed thewedge member 54, the sides 55 of which have bores 56 therein; thesebores are adapted to furnish the journals for the shafts 57 on which therubber roller elements 51 are aflixed to rotate with these shafts.

The upper ends of the shafts are journalled in the bearing members 58,which may be adjustably positioned on the uprights 53. Such adjustmentmay be obviously accomplished, as by providing a conventional ballbearing unit, not shown, which may be mounted in a conventional ball andsocket joint, also not shown, such a construction being installed ateither the wedge end or the bearing member end of each shaft.

The floats 6 and 27 have as their buoyant element the water tightbarrels 60. These barrels are installed on top of the pipe 40 by meansof the bands 61 which extend around the pipe and a side of the barrel,and then pass through the band clipper 65 for connection, byconventional means. with the band portion around the other side of thebarrel.

The band clipper 65 has a base 66 which is preferably curved in onedirection to conform with the curvature of the barrel. A block 67 isconnected centrally of the base 66 and has the bore 68 therethroughtransversely of the curvature of the base. The base 66 and block 67together constitute the band clipper housing 70. The housing has theopposed slots 71 and 72 through the walls thereof and parallel to. andon substantially the same horizontal plane as, the bore axis.

A cylinder 73 is provided to fit within the bore 68. such cylinder beingcut away centrally at 74. as shown in Fig. 9. for a length slightlygreater than the length of the slots 71. The cut away section 74 extendsbelow the horizontal plane of the bore axis. and terminates in a surface75, tapered axially to provide a sloped shearing edge 76 for positivelyshearing the band 61 when the lever 77, connected to the cylinder end 78transversely of the cylinder axis, is pulled upwardly. The oppositecylinder end 78' has the retaining ring 87 thereon to hold the cylinder73 in place on the block 67.

Each lever 77 has the curved end 79 into which a line 80 may be tied.These lines 80 join a common line 81 which is connected to a float block82, of wood or similar buoyant material. The line 81 is of apredetermined length. dependent upon the fathomcd depth of water, sothat the block 82 will float on the surface when the pipe is submerged.

To maintain the float block 82 on top of the barrel until it floatsthereabove. and thereby prevent it from interfering with the launchingoperation by dangling beside the barrel. various means may be employed.As shown in Fig. 7A, :1 lug 83 may be welded onto the barrel 60 to fitwithin a hole 84 in the float block. Optionally, a receptacle 85 may beprovided. which has an arm 86 extending on either side thereof to beheld beneath a clipper 65 as shown in Fig. 713. I

in the modification of trenching machine shown In Figs. ll-l4 the frameor carriage assembly 90 of the machine 39 includes two verticallyextending skid members 91 cross-connected by transverse members 92 andtwo centrally extending transverse elements 93 which are connected tothe top 94 of the frame. At each outer end 95 of these elements 93 apontoon 96 is connected to lend buoyancy and (16'! as a stabilizeragainst roll of the carriage from upright position so that a pontoonextends parallel to the frame in spaced relation on each side thereof.These pontoons are of a size and diameter to extend below the members 93so that the bottoms 96' thereof rest on a horizontal plane 98substantially below the frame top 94.

The frame 90 includes a header 97 which extends longitudinally of theframe 90 and which is connected to the transverse members 93. The header97 has an upright bracket 118 thereon adapted to have a tow-line 41connected thereto at a multiplicity of positions.

Parallel jets 45 extend downwardly and forwardly from the forward andcentral portion of the header 97 and a pair of parallel jets 45 alsoextend substantially vertically downwardly from the rear portion of theheader. The forward end of the header has a cap 99 thereon and the rearend of the header is adapted to have a hose 44 connected thereinto.

To adapt the trenching machine 39 to have the pipe line 40 extendedtherethrough the bottom roller assemblies 100. to be hereinafterdescribed. are omitted from the machine and the machine is placed overthe pipe line. The side rollers 101. have the shafts 102 mounted in theupper and lower journal blocks 103 and 104 on each side of the frame 90to operate inwardly of the frame sides.

The upper rollers 105 have the shafts 106 which are I mounted to rotatein the journal blocks 107 on either side of the frame at the top thereofand extending below the top.

After the machine is positioned over the pipe line, a bottom rollerassembly 100 is assembled to the frame below. and oppositely disposedto, each upper roller 105. Each assembly 100 comprises a roller 106'which has its shaft 107 journalled in the cups 108 at either endthereof. as shown in Fig. 15.

These cups are connected. as by welding, to sleeves '109 which extendtransveresly of the cup and shaft axis.

These sleeves 109 are substantially equal to or slightly less than thedistance between the adjacent surface of the spaced apart vertically andinwardly extending plates 110 which are connected to the lower portion,or runner 111 of the skid 91. These end plates 110 have horizontallyextending aligned bores 112 therein through which the bar 114 may beinserted. and also inserted through the sleeve 109, thereby completingthe connection of roller assembly to frame. Cotter pins or otherexpedients 115 are provided to be passed through the ends of the bar 114outwardly of the plates 110. to maintain the roller unit connected tothe frame 90.

When these roller assemblies 100 are thus installed the rollers 106contact the lower surface of the pipe 40 to abet the upper rollers 105and side rollers 101 to mnstitme pipe trucking devices in guiding themachine along the pipe line.

An optional construction of trenching machine 39 shown in Figs. 17 and18, shows a frame 90 [40] in which at least the top frame members 116and 117 are hollow to provide the header means. With such a header thehose 44 may be connected into the cross member 117 centrally thereof andthe jets 45 may extend downwardly from the top members 116.

The jets 45 extend below the bottoms 96' of the pontoons 96 a distanceso as to expel the water pumped therethrough to jet out, or dig a trenchof a depth to insure that the pipe line 40 may be sunk to a desireddepth below the floor 98. The exact occurrences during the performanceof jetting a sub-a ueous trench cannot be photographed. However theresults accomplished are known, as by divers. It is clear that the jets45 emulsify the sediment on the floor and cut away the harder earthenformation below, and that such dislodged matter rises into the water.However, as the trenching machine passes on such matter again settlesback, to a great extent, and covers the ipe 40 which sinks to the bottomof the trench 120 be ind the machine 39, as the machine passes the pipeline.

The skids 91 serve for skid purposes before the jets 45 are installed,and they serve as stabilizers before the pontoons 96 are on the bottom.Before the trench 120 is dug to deepest and widest extent shown in Fig.12, the skids 91 at first ride upon a ledge of sediment and formationbefore it is washed away, and in this manner, in addition to acting asstabilizers. they serve both as skids and guides.

When the trenching machine reaches a location where it is necessary todisconnect it from the pipe line 40 below the water. as when, in Fig. 3,it may approach the foot of the derrick of the well 31. the trenchingmachine may be released by sending down divers to remove the cotter pins115 from the bars 114. As the distance between the outer end of the cups108 is less than the distance between skids 90, the roller assembly 1.00may be pivoted about one bar 114 which may still be in place while theother bar 114 has been removed.

Additionally this shorter over all transverse length of the rollerassembly 100 makes it more easily removable from below the trenchingmachine. When the roller assemblies 100 have been disconnected from themachine 39, the buoyancy of the pontoons 96 causes them ttgfassist or toeffect the raising of the trenching mac the.

Whereas the launchway 4, comprised of a plurality of roller units 5.provides the most flexible type of launchway and one which is easilytransported from point to point, this invention also considers a morepermanent launchway as shown in Fig. l6, but which yet is less expensiveand elaborate than any conventional side launching structures heretoforeemployed.

Such launchway comprises cross-ties 126 upon which two parallelextending. spaced apart runways 127 are mounted. Dollies 128 areprovided to receive the pipe section 3 thereon, each dolly comprising abase 129 having a guide block 130 connected centrally thereto to extendbelow into the space between runways 127 [0 guide the dolly. Thetransverse members 131 support thereabove the longitudinal members 132,and together these members support a pad 133 to protect the coated pipesection 3.

To launch pipe sections 3 on a launchway 125 it is usually necessary togrease the runways 127, as with crushed bananas. to lessen thefrictional contact between dollies 128 and the runway top surfaces 134.It is also often found necessary to weight the pipe section 3 withweights, as 135, to insure that it moves down the launchway. Anoticeable feature of this type of launchway comprises the fact that thedollies are fioatable and therefore recoverable from the water afterlaunching.

Optionally, a type of dolly not shown in the drawing may comprisedollies having pads 133 mounted on conventtonal bases. and supported bywheels which roll upon the runways 127, there being guide blocks 130provided beneath the bases to maintain the dollies on the runways.

As a feature of this invention it is pointed out that each pair of bandclippers 65 and the lines and blocks connccted thcreto may be recovered.it is simply necessary to direct a craft along a pipe section to besunk, and an operator therein has only to lift up on the block 82 tocause each band clipper 65 to sever a band 61. The entire band clipperand float block assembly may then be lifted into the craft and retrievedfor future use.

aapea The barrels are also easily retrieved as they can be grappled andbrought aboard the craft as soon as they rise to the surface after thesevering of the bands 61.

The trenching machine is not limited to these disclosures describedhereinabove and a preferred embodiment is shown in Figs. 19-22. Thismodification has a frame comprising four posts 141 extending above thetop 94 of the jetting frame 90; these posts 141 being interconnected attheir tops by the horizontal members 142 and 143.

Sleeves 144 are installed on the posts 141 and have webs 145 thereonwhich form connection members for the pontoons 96. Each sleeve has a nut146 welded thereon and is threaded through co-axially with the nut. Aset screw wrench 147 is provided for each sleeve. such wrench having athreaded end 148 to be threaded into the nut 146 to lock each sleeve 144against its post 141 at any desired elevation. The air valves 149 andthe water valves 149 are provided to regulate the buoyancy of thepontoons 96. As shown most clearly in Fig. 20, the regulating of theposition of the pontoons 96 on the posts 141 determines the depth of thetrench 120. That is to say, when selected trench depth is finallyreached with the pontoons bottoming 0n the floor of the body of water,further jetting action will become substantially ineflective. During theback and forth trenching operation and particularly for a relativelydeep trench and before desired trench depth is reached, the pontoons maybe at a height considerably above the floor level, as illustrated by thebroken line positions in Fig. 20, and their buoyancies in co-opcrationwith the surrounding water stabilize the carriage against roll orangular tilt about the pipe line 40 to maintain the carriage upright andthe jet nozzles downwardly directed to a confined working zone.

Trenching machines of this type include as part of the frame 90 a header150 which is supported from the frame 90 by the uprights 151 andhorizontal members 159. The header also includes an inlet swivel 152which is pivotally connected to the journal member 153 which forms thecentral element of the header 150. As shown in Fig. 21. the journalmember 153 includes the cylindrical member 154 which is cut away toreceive for rigid connection the inner ends of the forward and afterheader portions 155 and 156. The base plate 157 closes the bottom of themember 154, and the flange 158 is provided at the top thereof.

The stufling box housing 160 is rigidly connected to the flange 158 andhas the studs 161 welded at radially spaced intervals to the outerperiphery thereof. The gland 162 has the holes 163 radially spaced inthe flange portion 164 to receive the studs 161 so that the nuts 161'may be tightened thereon and the packing 165 compressed between thegland 162. the housing 160. and the bearing flange 165' of the swivelbearing 166 to seal the hearing surfaces from fluid from above whilestill permitting rotation of the swivel 152.

The swivel bearing 166 has the port 167 therein which opens co-axiallywith the port 168 in the cylinder 154 when the trenching machine isbeing towed in the direction indicated by the arrow adjacent the lowline 169. the tow line 169 being tied into the connection hook 170 onthe header 150.

When traveling in this direction water is pumped through a single hose44 or a plurality thereof. to the manifold 171 at the top of the inletswivel 152. A plurality of connection flanges 172 are provided. as itoften happens that it proves more eflicient to pump from a plurality ofsmall pumps on the towing vessel 42. or on a separate pumping vessel.not shown in the drawings.

With the machine traveling as shown. the after portion of the header 156is blocked oil and all the jetting fluid pumped is directed through theports 167 and 168. the port 168' being closed by the wall of thecylinder 154. as shown in Fig. 22.

In order to prevent the inlet swivel 152 from rotating. the locking arm175 is provided which is pivoted on the pin 176 in the bracket 177 onthe swivel bearing 166 and engages in a slot 179 in the gland flange164. When it is desired to reverse the direction of travel of thetrcnching machine, in order to permit the inlet swivel to rotate. theline 182 is pulled upon to pivot the arm 175 upwardly.

As shown in Fig. 19 this line 182 extends through the pulley 183 to thesurface of the water. A similar pulley may be located similarly on theopposite side of the frame 140 to release the arm 175 at the end of theopposite direction of machine travel. After the direction of travel hasbeen changed. and the swivel 152 has been rotated the port 167communicates with the port 168, and all jetting fluid pumped goesthrough the header portion 156 and its jets 45. Then the arm 175 may beplaced to lock in a slot 179 in the gland flange diametrically oppositethe first slot 179. The arrangement enables adjustment from above thewater surface and without disconnection of the submerged machine fromthe pipe line whenever trencher travel direction is to be reversed, aswill be required for making several passes back and forth by the jetsfor removal of floor material to a specified trench depth.

In this modification of machine described immediately hereinabove, it isobvious that the header, in the technical sense of the word. includesboth the body hereinabove termed the header 150, and the tubular memberherein above termed the swivel 152, and which includes by connection themanifold 171, and thus properly includes the fluid container between theinlet and dispersal thereof.

In the trenching process it may often occur that heavy formationparticles, coral, oyster shell, mud, and the like may tend to clutterthe trench being excavated, and pile up at the end thereof. To removesuch material an L-shaped tube 185 is connected to either end of theheader 150 and a smaller tube or pipe 186 is extended from the headerand rigidly connected to extend within the upper leg 187 of the L-shapedtube.

The operation of the L-tube, when employed, is obvious, as the fluidpumped through the pipe 186 syphons the accumulated obstructing materialupwardly and discharges it into the water thereabove. The valve 188 isprovided to shut off the use of this tube 185 when trenching is beingconducted where such is not needed.

A pipe 178, graduated as a stadia rod, may be installed on the manifold171. This stadia rod can be read in terms of distance from the waterlevel to the manifold, or to the bottom of the machine. The depth oftrench being jetted in turn depends upon the distance from the bottom ofthe pontoons 96 to the bottom of the machine.

In addition to the means hereinabove described for maintaining the floatblocks 82 on top of the barrels 60. a device 190 may be providedcomprising a lath strip 191 having two nails 192 therein spaced apart adistance just greater than the length of the block. The line 81 is thenwound lightly around the two nails 192 and the block. The ends of thelath are confined in assembly beneath the bases 66 of the band clippers65.

An optional device of the same type includes a cross piece 193 alsohaving nails 192 therein, and spaced apart a distance just greater thanthe width of the block 82. This device insures that the block 82 is notbound by the line 81 so that it readily floats when the barrel 60 issubmerged therebelow in the water.

It is obvious that the same or similar types of equip ment may beemployed to remove a pipe line from beneath a body of water. In suchcase the trenching machine is first employed to loosen the formationthereabout and uncover the pipe. Then, with the line free and plugged atthe end remote from the point to which it is to be returned, it islifted at a point therefrom the length of a section to be floated. It isthen severed above water and plugged and the line is allowed to sink tothe bottom. a suitable marker being provided to float thereabove tolocate the plugged end.

The section to be floated. now free and plugged at both ends, issupported from the surface, first at one end. until barrels can beinstalled a distance therealong. It may then be supported from thesurface at successive points until finally enough barrels have beeninstalled thereon to float the section so that it may be towed to theshore. The launchway provided for launching may then be employed toguide the section inboard. The barrels may be removed from the sectionashore or on the water in the vicinity of the shore line. From thelaunchway. the section may be handled onto the rack. These steps arerepeated until all the pipe line is ashore.

This invention broadly sets out to provide more clficient methods forextending pipe lines, usually consisting of processed or coated pipesections, to off-shore locations and over bodies of water, and forentrenching such pipe lines in the floor beneath the body of water. Thesystem of apparatus and various devices disclosed are within the scopeof this invention, as are other structures which can carry out themethods disclosed.

Broadly, therefore, this invention considers both method and structurefor launching pipe into the water substantially transversely of theshore line, to travel thereinto in a generally axially extendingdirection, and it considers therefor a launchway of portable units, andalso a more permanent, yet portable launchway, constructed as anintegral unit, and providing runways and recoverable dollies. It alsoconsiders the adaptation of nautical vessels for welding together pipesections at sea. Additionally it considers a method of floating pipelines, and float means and easily operable float severing means, bothofwhich means are recoverable. It also considers an easily installed andremoved trenching machine, inexpensively operated, to entrench the pipeline on the floor beneath a body of water.

This invention also broadly includes the use of the apparatus forextending pipe lines in a method of recovering extended pipe lines frombelow the bodies of water.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for entrenching a sunken pipe line into the earthen floorbelow a body of water, said machine comprising a frame including aheader adapted to have a pressurized fluid supplied thereinto, saidframe being adapted to have a tow line connected thereto and being ofsubstantial length with respect to the width thereof and being adaptedto surround said pipe and to extend substantially longitudinallytherealong, said header being of substantially the length of said frame,a plurality of oppositely disposed rollers connected to said frame at aplurality of longitudinally spaced apart locations along said frame,said rollers at each location extending within said frame to contactsaid pipe and to guide said frame along said pipe, stabilizer meansconnected to said frame and extending therefrom with the lowermostportions thereof at a higher level than the bottom of said frame, andjet nozzle means extending downwardly from said header adjacent saidrollers and through which pressurized fluid supplied from said line tosaid header may be expelled to jet a trench in the earthen floor belowsaid frame into which said pipe may sink behind said machine as saidmachine is towed along said pipe.

2. A machine as described in claim 1 in which said header comprises atubular member mounted on top of said frame substantially centrally ofthe transverse width thereof with its longitudinal axis substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of said frame.

3. A machine as described in claim 1 in which said header comprises ahollow portion of said frame.

4. A machine as described in claim I in which said header includes abody from which said jet nozzles ex tend and a tubular element intowhich said pressurized fluid is supplied, said tubular member beingpivotally connected to said body substantially centrally, longitudinallythereof, said tubular element and said body providing cooperating valveelements to divert said fluid to either end of said body.

5. A machine as described in claim 1 which additionally includes asyphon means on said frame in fluid communication with said header andoperable by fluid supplied thereinto from said header to divert at leastpart of the jetted formation particles away from said trench.

6. A machine for entrenching a prelaid sunken conduit into the earthenfloor below a body of water, said machine comprising a carriage fortravel along said prelaid conduit, a header on the carriage adapted tohave a pressurized fluid supplied thereinto, a plurality of pairs ofconduit engageable tracking devices connected to said carriage withthose of each pair being substantially diametrically opposed in relationto the conduit therebetween, and the pairs of tracking devices beingspaced apart in the direction of carriage travel for contact with saidconduit to guide the travel of said carriage along said prelaid conduit,buoyant stabilizer means connected to said carriage and extendingtherefrom with the lowermost portions thereof at a higher level than thebottom of said carriage, and jet nozzle means supported on the carriageto extend toward the floor from said header and through whichpressurized fluid supplied from said header is expelled to jet a trenchin the earthen floor below the conduit into which said conduit may sinkbehind said machine as said machine travels along said conduit.

7. A machine as described in claim 6 in which said header comprises atubular member mounted on top of said carriage substantially centrallyof the transverse width thereof with its longitudinal axis extendingsubstantially in the direction of carriage travel.

8. A machine as described in claim 6 in which said header comprises ahollow portion of said carriage.

9. A machine for entrenchin a prelaid sunken conduit into the earthenfloor below a body of water, comprising a carriage for travel along saidprelaid conduit, a header on the carriage or pressurized fluid, aplurality of tracking devices connected to 'said carriage at d pluralityof locations spaced apart in the direction of carriage travel forcontact with said conduit to guide and retain the carriage on saidprelm'd conduit, stabilizer means connected to said carriage andextended therefrom with the lower-most portions thereof at a higherlevel than the bottom'of said carriage, jet nozzle means supported onthe carriage to extend toward the floor and connected with said header,said header including a body from opposite ends of which said jet nozzlemeans extend and a tubular element into which said pressurized fluid issupplied, said tubular element being pivotal! connected to said headerbody substantially centrally, ongitudinally thereof, said tubularelement and said header body constituting cooperating valve elements todivert said fluid to either end of said header body.

10. A trenching machine for cntrenching a prelaid sunken conduit intothe earthen floor below a body of water, said machine comprising acarriage, a header for pressurized fluid supplied thereinto, carriagesupported guide means for engaging the conduit and retaining thecarriage on the conduit, jet nozzle means on the carriage extendingtoward the floor to direct pressurized fluid from the header in jettingthe trench in the floor below the prelaid conduit, said header includinga body having said jet nozzles at opposite ends thereof and a tubularelement through which said pressurized fluid is supplied to the body,said tubular element being pivotally connected to said body at a pointbetween the jet nozzles at opposite ends thereof and co-operatintherewith as a two-way valve element to divert said uid for passageselectively zhrgugh the jet nozzles at one or the other end of said I I.In a submarine conduit trenching machine of a type to be completelysubmcr ed in a body of water, a traveling carriage, downwardly directedfluid pressure trench digging jets supported by the carriage, conduitembracing guides on the carriage and a pontoon stabilizer projected fromand in rigid relation with the carriage having buoyant co-operation withthe surrounding water in which the carriage is submerged and maintaininthe carriage upright and the carriage supported jets dawnwardlydirected.

12. A trench jetting machine to be submerged in a body of water fortravel on a submarine cable during a trenching operation on the floor ofsaid body of water, including a traveling carriage having cablereceiving guides to secure the carriage against displacement from thesubmarine cable and in tracking relation thereon, pressure fluid jettingnozzles on the carriage and through which pressure fluid is directedagainst the water body floor, and buoyant means to resist carriage rollaround the cable axis, comprising a pair of carriage stabilizingpontoons secured on opposite sides of the carriage and above saidpressure fluid jetting nozzles a distance to space the pontoon: from thefloor, at least in the initial stages of the trenching operation, and inbuoyant cooperation with the water in which the carriage is submerged.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS (Other references on following we) UNITED sumsPATENTS 2,538,365 Jones Ian. 16, 1951 2121.38 Mm I 21 1938 2,659,211Notarbartolo :1 a1. Nov. 11, 1953 8 n unc 2,144,063 Irvin Ian. 11, 1939FOREGN PATENTS 1 2,307,389 Carter Ian. 5, 1943 5 601,925 France of 19252,447,931 B111, 111. Aug. 24. 1948 694,195 France of 1930 2,502 $82Murphy =1 n Apr. 4, 1950 555,954 Germany of 1932 25361023 Bcsner Ian. 2,1951 105,410 Germany 011941 UNITED sums PA'IENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Reissue No. 23,963 Marc'n li' 1955 Samuel V, Collins It ishereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction and that the said LettersPatent should read as corrected below.

Column 9, line 40, the words "said line to" should appear in squarebrackets instead of in italics Signed and sealed this 12th day of April,1955.

(SEAL) Atteet:

E. J. MURRY ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Coumissioner of Patents

